Automatically-threading loom shuttle



June 17, v 1930. c, H, DRAPER 1,765,327

' AUTOMATICALLY THREADING LOOM SHUTTLE Filed Feb. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 17, 1930. c, DRAPER 1,765,327

Filed Feb. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 17, 1930 Unitas; s 'rar;ss

riEnr orrrcn CLARE H DRAPER, OF I-IOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS}. ASSIGNOR TO. DR'APER CORBORLA- TION, HOPE-DALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE AUTOMATICALLY-THREADING LOOM SHUTTLE Application filed February 2, 1929. Serial No. 336,937.

This invention relates to automatically threading loom shuttles and is more particularly directed to the thread tensioning means.

in automatic filling replenishing looms the thread ends of the full bobbins or filling carriers in the hopper are usually secured to a fixed point, so that on replenishment of filling the shuttle will be partially threaded on the first pick of the shuttle. Unless the thread is properly tensioned on the first pick of the shuttle followingreplenishment it will not be properly laid in the shed, a condition which may. frequently beobserved in the finished cloth, and much thought and inventive ingenuity have been exercised in automatic threading shuttles to provide tension on the thread on-the first pick of the shuttle. On the second pick of the shuttle following replenishment it has been suggested heretofore that an additional tensioning device may act upon the thread, the result being that the tension exerted on the thread during the first pick of the shuttle will differ materially from the tension exerted on the thread during subsequent weaving when the shuttle is fully threaded.

One of thepurposes of the present invention is to provide an automatically threading loom shuttle with thread tension means to apply suitable tension on the thread during the first pick of the shuttle and a substantially similar or equal tension upon the thread during subsequent weaving when the shuttle is fully threaded.

In accordance with the present invention, the automatically threading shuttle is pro vided with a scroll of novel construction which will deflect and tension the thread on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment, and when the thread leads from the side delivery eye on the second and subsequent picks of the shuttle the tensioning effect of the scroll is partially or wholly relieved from the thread and the latter is passed into .vention on the line -fl l of Fig. 3; and

control of other tensioning meanswhich remains active to tension the thread during normal weaving operations.

The invention and novel featiuesthoreof will best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings of one good form thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan. view of an automatically threading shuttle provided with the present a invention, and showing the relation of parts on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the relation of parts when the shuttle is fully threaded and the thread leads fronr-the side delivery eye; a

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3'3' of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the front end of the shuttle containing the present in- Fig. 5 is a detail showing a slightly modified form of scroll.

The shuttle 1 has the usual bobbin chamber 2 and frontward of the bobbin chamber is the longitudinal thread passage 3 which communicates with the side delivery eye 41 In the illustrated form of the invention, the shuttle is provided with a threading block 5 which may be formed with a; longi- 7-5, tudinal thread passage 3,,and at oneside of the threading block is the thread director 6 having its front edge portion 7 slightly separated from the shuttle body, at 8, to form. a passageway 9 between the edge of theth-read director and the shuttle wood, through which the thread may pass on the second pick of the shuttle following replenishment. The end portion of the thread director 6, as shown, underlies the guard 1O, and the parts thus far described may be of any usual construction.

Mounted in the longitudinal thread passage 3 is a scroll which, on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment, takes control of the thread a, and by deflecting the thread about parts of the scroll exerts sufiicient tension on the thread to insure its being properly laid in the shed. The coils or loops of the scroll may be multiplied at pleasure and obviously the tension upon the thread increases or diminishes by variations in the distance between the members of the scroll, and indeed the members of the scroll may be brought sufficiently near to each other to exercise a deterrent efiect upon the passa e of any loops of filling or slugs throug the shuttle eye and into the cloth. 7

As shown more particularly in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the scroll is formed of wire or other suitable material and its end portions are fastened at opposite sides of the thread passage, and between the end portions of the scroll is a loop 11 which extends in a curved pathtransversely of the thread passage.

Irrthe present instance of the invention, the leg portions 12 and 13 of the scroll may be secured to the opposite walls forming the thread passage by providing the opposite walls with suitable recesses into which the end portions 14 and 15 of the scroll may extend to thereby hold the scroll in proper position in the thread assage and cause the thread as it swirls uring its withdrawal from'the filling carrier or bobbin on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment to be guided about the loop portion 11 of the scroll into engagement over and under the leg )rtions 12 and 13 of the scroll, with the resu t that the thread a, as indicated in Fig. 1, is deflected over and under the leg portions of the scroll and thereby has imparted to it the requisite tension.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the scroll may be of double form, that is, the scroll adjacent the bobbin chamber may be duplicated at a point more remote'from the bobbin chamber, and in such case the loop portion 16 of the duplicate scroll may occupy a position between the end leg portions 17 and 18 of the du licate scroll. The ends ofthe duplicate scro 1 may be secured at opposite sides of the thread passage in a manner similar to that already described for the companion scroll, and where a duplicate scroll is employed it will be obvious that the thread a will be deflectedbetween the end leg portions of each of the scroll members to thereby exert increased tension upon the thread where duplicate scrolls are employed.

Where the scroll is formed in duplicate, as last described, the two companion scrolls may be formed of a single wire or other suitable material, but in either event each constitutes a scroll in itself. This formation of the duplicate scroll is shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein the joining portions of the two scrolls enter a recess 19 at one side of the longitudinal passage.

The modification of the scroll, as indicated the end portions of the scroll the scroll loop' 22 extends in a curved path transversely of the thread passage, the construction being such that when the swirling thread is engaged with the loop 22 it will be directed thereby over and under the end portions of the scroll, as at 23 and 24, and be suitably deflected to impart tension thereto on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment.

Whether the scroll be of the duplicate type, as shown in Fi s. 1 and 2, or of the single scroll type, as shown in Fig. 5, the swirling thread will be directed about the loop portion of the scroll so that it will occupy a position at one side of the longitudinal axis of the scroll without passing through the loops of the scroll. From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that where the scroll has its end portions secured at opposite sides of the longitudinal thread passage, the thread will not only be deflected and tensioned by passing over and under the end members of the scroll but will be located at one side of the lon itudinal axis of the scroll on the first pick 0% the shuttle following replenishment, and since the swirling action of the thread contributes to its engagement in the condition above described, that part of the end member of the scroll under which the thread passes, as at 13, Fig. 1, and 24, Fig.- 5, will act as a swirl arrester, so that as the thread is withdrawn from the shuttle on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment, and swirling action of the thread after engagement by the scroll will take place from the scroll back into the bobbin chamber.

Thecharacter or detail structure of the scroll itself may be variously contrived, the essentials in this respect being that regardless of the particular structure, the end portions of the scroll shall be secured at opposite sides of the longitudinal thread passage.

When the shuttle has completed its first pick following replenishment and has returned to the replenishing side of the loom, the shuttle will become fully threaded, that is to say, the thread will be directed by the thread director to the side delivery eye where it will remain-on second and subsequent picks of the shuttle during weaving. At such time it is desirable that the tension exerted by the scroll shall be partially or wholly removed and that a working tension device he employed for imparting to the thread a working tension during weaving.

Mounted in the threading block, in the present instance of the invention, is a thread deflector 25 which extends in an inclined direction towards that side of the thread passage opposite the thread engaging portion of the scroll, as indicated in Fig. 1, with: the result that when the thread is engaged by the thread deflector it will be carried laterally of the scroll from the scroll engaging portions,

so that the scroll tension on the thread pre-- construction it will be noted that When the thread passes to the side delivery eye through the passage 9 it will engage about the thread deflector and consequently be deflected laterally of the thread passsage.

Cooperating with the thread deflector 25 is a: resilient thread tensioning means for exerting tension upon the thread upon the second and subsequent picks of the shuttle following replenishment by deflecting the thread -rela g5 ti-veto the thread deflector.

The; resilient member may be variously contrived but as shown in. the present instance of'theinvent-ion consists of a bow spring 28, the lower end portion 29 of which is secured 30 to the threading block at the side of the thread passage opposite the delivery eye 4, and at this point the bow spring 28 extends frontwardly with its bowed end 30- seated in a recess 31 of the shuttle wood, so that the thread may not. engage beneath the bow spring. The upper portion 32 of. the bow spring extends rearwardly from the bow 30 and its rear end portion at 33 projects into an elongated slot 34 formed in the threading block at the side of the thread passage opposite the side delivery eye, with the result that when the shuttle is fully threaded on the second pick following replenishment it will pass about the thread deflector 25 and over the upper member 32 of the bow spring 28,

and owing'tothe spring-action of the resilient tensioning member the thread leading about the thread deflector 25 will be bent more or less to exert a weaving tension upon the 5@ thread, during subsequent picks of the shuttle, as indicated in Figs. 2' and 4. At the same time it will be obvious that owing to the deflectionof the thread by the thread deflector 25 it will be relieved wholly or in part from the tension of the scroll, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4; that is, the thread will be drawn from its scroll engaging and tensioning position at one side of the thread passage, Fig; 1, towards the longitudinal axis of the passage and thus relieved in whole or in partfrom the scroll tension, as indicated 1n Figs. 2 and 4.

From the construction described as one good practical form of'the present invention 65 it will be noted that on the first pick'of the shuttle following replenishment the scroll, which has its end portions secured at opposite sides of the thread passage, will exert tension upon the thread that it may be properly laid in the shed, and on following and subsequent picks of the shuttle when the thread leads from the side delivery eye the tension exerted by the scroll will be-wholly or partially removed and working tension applied to the thread by the cooperating action of the thread deflector and the resilient member or bow spring.

The term scroll as herein employed is used in a general or broad. sense to signify an element having convolute portions, turns or spirals which serve to guide or direct the swirling'th-read as the shuttle-is picked.

lVhat is claimed'is:

1. An automatically threading'loom shuttle having a longitudinal thread passage and side delivery eye, a scroll mounted in the longitudinal thread passage and having its ends secured at opposite sides of the thread passage that the thread may be deflected and tensioned by passing over and under the terminal portionsof the scroll in the longitudinal thread passage on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment.

2. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a longitndinal thread passage and side delivery eye, a scroll in the longitudinal thread pass-age having its ends secured at opposite sides of the thread passage and provided with a loop extending in a curved path transversely of the thread passage between the ends of the scroll that the thread may be deflected and tensioned by passing over and under the ends of the scroll on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment.

3. An automatically threading loom shut-- tle having a longitudinal thread passage and side delivery eye, a scroll having its-axis extending longitudinally in the thread passage andits ends secured to the walls of the thread passage at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis thereof to deflect and tension the thread at one side of the longitudinal axis by passing over and under the terminal portions of the scroll on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment.

4. An automatically threading loom shuttle having alongitudinal thread passage and side delivery eye, a scroll having a loop in the longitudinal passage and provided with two leg. portions, one of which adjacent the bobbin chamber is secured to a side wall of the thread passage and the other of which nearer the side delivery eye is secured to the opposite wall of the thread passage that the thread may be deflected over and under the two leg portions of the scroll and tensioned on the first pick of the shuttle following rcplenishment.

5. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a longitudinal thread passage and side delivery eye, a scroll mounted in the thread passage and having its ends secured at opposite sides of the thread passage that the thread may be tensioned between the terminal portions of the scroll on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment, and tensioning means frontward of the scroll to engage the thread on the second pick of the shuttle following replenishment to maintain substantially uniform tension on the thread during subsequent weaving;

' 6; An automatically threading loom shuttle having a longitudinal thread passage an side delivery eye, a scroll having its ends secured at opposite sides of the thread passage and provided with a loop extending in a curved path transversely of the thread passage between the ends of the scroll that the thread may be deflected and tensioned on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment, and means for engaging the thread on the secondpick of the shuttle as the thread passes to the side delivery eye to withdraw the thread from the full tensioning effect of the scroll and apply a separate tension to the thread for subsequent weaving.

7. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a longitudinal thread passage and side delivery eye, a scroll in the threadpassage to apply tension to the thread on the first pick of the shuttle following replenish agent, and a separate tensioning device which engages and tensions the thread only when the thread is delivered from the side delivery eye on the second pick of the shuttle and comprising a member for deflecting the thread from the full tensioning effect of the scroll.

8. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a scroll for tcnsioning the thread on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment, and a separate thread tensioning device for tensioning the thread on the second and subsequent picks of the shuttle when the thread is delivered from the side delivery eye, including a member at the side of the longitudinal axis of the scroll opposite the side delivery eye for holding the thread from the full tensioning effect of the scroll when the thread is delivered from the side eye during weaving. V i

9. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a longitudinal thread passage and side delivery eye, means for tensioning the thread on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment, and separate means to apply tension to the thread on the second and subsequent picks of the shuttle when the thread is delivered from the side delivery eye, including a thread deflector inclined laterally to the side of the thread passage opposite the side delivery eye to deflect the thread from the full tensioning effect of the means for tensioning'the thread on the first pick of the shuttle.

10. An automatically threadingloom shuttle having a side delivery eye, a threading block having a longitudinal thread passage and provided with a thread director, a thread tensionin device for placing tension on the thread w on it is delivered from the side eye, comprisi a thread deflector extending from the three director backwardl and transversely relative to the longitu inal axis of thethread passage, and a resilient member cooperating with the thread deflector to imd part tension to the thread when the thread leads to the side delivery eye.

11. An automatically threading loom shuttlehaving a side delivery eye, a threading block having a longitudinal thread passage and provided with a thread director, a thread tensionin device for placing tension on the thread w en it is delivered from the side eye, comprising a thread deflector extending from the thread director backwardly and transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the thread passage thatthe thread may pass aboutthe thread deflector on the second pick of the shuttle following replenishment when it leads through the side eye, and a resilient member for bending the thread relative to the deflector to apply tension during weaving.

. 12. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a longitudinally extending thread passage and a side delivery eye, a thread director for directing the thread to the side delivery eye on the second pick of the shuttle following replenishment of filling, a thread deflector extending from the thread director di onally backward and across the longitudinal thread passage to the side thereof remote from the side delivery e e to engage the thread and deflect it towar s the side of y the thread passa e remote from the side delivery eye when t e shuttle is fully threaded.

13. An automatically threading loom shuttle havin a longitudinal thread passage and aside de ivery eye, means in the thread passage .to tension the thread on the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment, and a separate tensionin means in the shuttle which engages the t read when the thread is delivered from the side delive eye on the second pick of the shuttle, said lii'st tensioning means becoming ineffective to tension the thread when the thread is fully threaded in said shuttle. I

14. An automatically threading loom shuttle havin a longitudinal thread passage and a side de ivery eye, thread tensioning mech anism associated therewith and operative-to apply tension to the thread during normal running of the shuttle when the shuttle is completely threaded, and additional tensioning means effective to tension the thread during the first pick of the shuttle following replenishment, the thread being deflected from control of the additional tensioning means in the complete threading of the shuttle.

15. In a self-threading shuttle, a shuttle eye, tension mechanism associated therewith and operative to tension the Weft on the second pick of the shuttle after Weft replenishment, and additional means to tension the Weft during the first pick of said shuttle, said additional means becoming Wholly or partially inoperative When the Weft is fully threaded in said shuttle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CLARE H. DRAPER. 

